Dear Sun Spots: I am interested in finding a person within Lewiston/Auburn or a nearby surrounding town, who makes and sells handmade doughnuts. Perhaps there’s an older woman that does this to supplement her income. The doughnuts they sell in the stores and doughnut shops aren’t worth buying to me. They are like sawdust to me. Very dry. If Sun Spots could find such a person, it would be greatly appreciated. I cannot pay any more than market value, as I live on Social Security. Thank you in advance. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, perhaps you and your family might enjoy making the following doughnuts.

Raised doughnut ingredients: 3 cups milk, ½ cup butter, plus extra butter to place in pans later, 1 cup white granulated sugar, 3 teaspoons salt, 2 medium size eggs, ½ cup lukewarm water, 4 cakes yeast, 10 cups flour (sometimes one needs a little less, sometimes a little more depending on the size of eggs used). For after deep frying: 1 lunch bag filled with 1 cup sugar and teaspoon of cinnamon.

Method: Scald milk (bring to point before boiling) and place in a large mixing bowl. Add sugar, salt and butter to the hot milk. Let mixture cool. Meanwhile, take a cup and fill it with the warm water and yeast to soften. Break the eggs in a cup and lightly beat. Return to mixture in large bowl and add 5 cups of flour and mix until smooth. Add the yeast mixture and 1 cup flour and mix. Add the egg mixture and mix. Add 3½ cups of flour to form a stiff ball of dough (add the final ½ cup as needed to form ball). Lightly flour a breadboard or marble slab. Place flour ball on the board and knead until smooth. Place dough into a lightly buttered bowl. Let the dough rise in a warm place (place it in oven with the door slightly ajar so the light remains on until it’s doubled in size). After the dough has risen, punch the dough down, rub the top of the dough with cool melted butter to prevent the dough from sticking to lid or towel on bowl. Place dough into refrigerator and let it rise. The dough can remain in refrigerator for several days.

When ready to bake the rolls/doughnuts, remove the dough needed from bowl. Lightly butter the bread pans to prevent sticking. Knead with gentleness (the less handling, the higher the bread will rise) on lightly floured board or marble slab. Roll dough to about ¼ inch thick on lightly floured board or marble slab. Cut out doughnuts. Let doughnuts raise for about 1 to 2 hours so they double their size. Fry the raised doughnut in deep fat kettle or fryer for about 1 minute (until golden brown). Remove from kettle with slotted spoon. Place on paper towels to remove the excess oil. Take a paper bag (lunch bag size) and place in it 1 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. (Add more as needed). Place the warm doughnut into the bag and shake lightly to coat the doughnut then place on a platter. Note: If the doughnut is too cold the sugar coating doesn’t work as well. Best served with cold milk or coffee or hot chocolate or cold / hot cider.

Dear Sun Spots: I was wondering if you could please find the address for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and also Elliott Sadler. Thanks. – B.C., Gardiner.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, you may also want to contact the Dale Earnhardt Jr. club. For more information on joining CLUB E, call 1-888-33-CLUB-E. You can also write to them at Dale Earnhardt Fan Club, 4707 East Baseline Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040.

Regarding your second question, Sadler will be appearing April 15 at SpeedZone, 11130 Malibu Drive in Dallas, TX 75229 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and you might want to try writing to him there. Call (972) 247- 7223 for more information.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to [email protected].